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Shyness (Radio 4 series: Thinking Allowed)

This episode of Radio 4's Thinking Allowed series includes a segment on shyness. Susie Scott, Research Associate in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University, spent three years collecting personal stories and accounts of people who see themselves as shy, exploring the social context in which this feeling arises, how it affects our interaction with others, and the way that cultural norms and values shape our perceptions of 'shy' behaviour.

Laurie Taylor talks to Susie Scott about her research, which suggests that we should stop stigmatising the shy, and think of it as a social phenomenon rather than a personality trait. The segment is first in the audio clip before a discussion on the company of strangers.